MALAWI: Reflecting on October as World Mission Month
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications office
The month of October is a Missionary month: During the month, Catholics world-over celebrate World Mission Sunday and Catholic Christians are encouraged to pray Holy Rosary daily. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith which is under the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) is mandated to promote activities within the month.
The meaning of the World Mission Month.
According to the National Director for PMS Malawi, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa, Jesus Christ mandate us, to preach the Gospel “Go and proclaim the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15, Mathew 28:19).He says the Gospel is preached in different ways like: preaching or proclaiming the Word of God, life-witness, celebration of the liturgy and living the ideals of Justice and Peace among many other expressions.
The Catholic Church, during this time, calls all its faithful to reflect on how they are fulfilling their obligation in preaching the Gospel to the whole world through prayers, Christian services and financial assistance. It is also a time for each Christian to thank God for the gift of faith and then pray for others who do not have faith or who have weak faith to believe in the Gospel of salvation,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
Significance of the World Mission Month.
In explaining the significance of the World Mission Month, Fr. Mwakhwawa said the Church has set aside the month of October as a mission Month so as to remind Christians of their role to cooperate with Christ in ensuring the gospel reached all corners of the earth. He also added that the Mission Month is a preparation for the celebration of World Mission Sunday. World Mission Sunday is a special Sunday that every Catholic in the whole world prays and contributes money for work of the Church in preaching the Gospel of salvation of the whole world.
“Here in Malawi, we will celebrate this World Mission Sunday on 16th October at Nsanje Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Chikwawa. This is a special day of prayer and collection of money for the mission of the Church in the whole world. The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world – beyond the borders, especially where the people have not heard the good news of salvation and where the Church is young,” he said.
The World Mission Sunday was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1922, as a way of the renewing the Pentecost experience which initiated the mission of the apostle to people of other nations. The Church celebrates the gift of the missionary spirit in its members (the laity, clergy and religious) and at the same time prays for the growth of this same spirit because the work is huge and the vineyard is vast. The Church wants to live and encourage the growth of this spirit which filled the early Christians who were gathering together; sharing the world of God; breaking the Bread; and putting their material things together for the salvation of many (Acts 2:42-47).
The World Mission Sunday collections are put together and then shared to all countries in need of support for proclamation of the good news. The support is called missionary subsidy and is used for various missionary developments in the Catholic Church which among others include building church, hospitals, schools, houses for Priests, Brothers and Sisters, buying religious and spiritual materials to be used by those who cannot afford because of their poor economic or social conditions.
“The collections on World Mission Sunday are a sign of faith in action, sharing the faith through monetary gifts so that the good news can be preached to those who have not heard it. This collection is a sacrifice of faith which Christians so that the world can be a better place with Gospel values,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
To be continued….
